Oba Esigie & Oba Ewuare
21. Oba Esigie of Benin (ruled c.1504-c.1550 AD)Great ruler of the southern Nigeria region who commissioned great art Great Benin, also known as Edo, was an important state that flourished in southern Nigeria. Oba Esigie ascended the throne in c.1504 and had a long and eventful reign of perhaps 46 years. He introduced a special […]
Negus Negaste Ezana & Hannibal Barca
23. Negus Negaste Ezana of Ethiopia (flourished 330 AD)The first Christian Emperor in the world Ezana proclaimed Ethiopia to be a Christian state in the early fourth century AD, one of the oldest surviving Christian nations in the world. An inscription of the period recorded a prayer of the Negus Negaste (i.e. King of Kings): […]
Admiral Hanno & Queen/Pharaoh Hatshepsut
25. Admiral Hanno of Carthage (sixth or fifth centuries BC)Carthaginian explorer of the West African coast The North African civilisation of Carthage was much engaged in exploration. There are accounts of Carthaginian exploration in the sixth or fifth centuries BC. Hanno, one of their admirals, commanded sixty ships that carried 30,000 people along the north […]
Mai Idris Alooma & Prime Minister Imhotep
27. Mai Idris Alooma of Kanem-Borno (ruled 1564-96 AD)Greatest ruler of the Central African state of Kanem-Borno Mai (i.e. King) Idris Alooma (1564-96) was a most successful politician of the period who gained considerable international prestige. Mahmud Kati, the great Songhai historian, wrote that: “The mass of our contemporaries hold that there are four Sultans […]
Queen Judith & Sarki Muhammad Kanta
29. Queen Judith of Ethiopia (ruled c. 940-c.980 AD)Falasha conqueror of Ethiopia and destroyer of Christianity In 940 AD, though some authorities give slightly earlier dates, Judith, a Falasha conqueror, seized the throne of the Ethiopian city of Axum and proclaimed herself Queen. Inspiring dread in many Christian minds, she destroyed the churches, killing thousands […]
Pharaoh Khashekemui & Pharaoh Khufu
31. Pharaoh Khashekemui of Egypt (ruled 5094-5046 BC)First of the great Egyptian builders Pharaoh Khasekhemui, the last king of the Negro Second Egyptian Dynasty, presided over a brilliant 48 years of political and religious stability. Stone sculpture developed greatly during his time. Private individuals as well as royalty had portrait sculptures carved. Khasekhemui built the […]
Mutapa Matope & Pharaoh Mena
33. Mutapa Matope of Munuhumutapa (fourteenth century AD)Powerful ruler of Southern Africa The early southern African towns and villages lacked any central authority until discipline was imposed, first by the 12th or 13th century AD ruler Mutapa (i.e. Emperor) Mutota and then by a descendant, Mutapa Matope. Matope was the greatest conqueror of the early […]
Pharaoh Mer-Meith & King Micipsa
35. Pharaoh Mer-Meith of Ancient Egypt (ruled 5524-c.5507 BC) First Female Pharaoh of Egypt Pharaoh Mer-Neith (5524-c.5507 BC), of the Negro First Egyptian Dynasty, succeeded to the throne and ruled as its first female pharaoh. Her name means ‘beloved of Neith’, named after the same goddess that the Greeks would, at a much later date, […]
Askia Mohammed I & Mansa Musa
37. Askia Mohammed I of Songhai (ruled 1493-1529, died in 1538 AD) Emperor of the Songhai Empire of West Africa Sonni Baru Dao, ruler of the Songhai Empire, was also a follower of a traditional African religion and rejected all attempts to convert him to Islam by Muslims in his empire. After several weeks of […]
Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore & Ngola Ann Nzinga
39. Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore of Kush (ruled 1-20 AD)Sudanese husband and wife team who were the last of the great pharaonic builders Pharaoh Natakamani and Queen Amanitore were the last great builders in Kush. They lived somewhere around 1 AD to 20 AD. Their buildings were raised in Keraba, an area between the […]
